Compare the2025 Mercedes GLCVS 2025 Volvo V60 Cross Country

The GLC has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The V60 Cross Country doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The GLC offers optional Car-to-X Communication, a system that seamlessly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The V60 Cross Country doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from infrastructure or other vehicles.

Both the GLC and the V60 Cross Country have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive, lane departure warning systems and around view monitors.

The Mercedes GLC achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The V60 Cross Country has not yet been fully evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

There are over 36 percent more Mercedes dealers than there are Volvo dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the GLC’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Mercedes vehicles are better in initial quality than Volvo vehicles. With 36 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mercedes higher than Volvo.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mercedes vehicles are more reliable than Volvo With 27 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Mercedes higher than Volvo.

The GLC 300’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 8 more horsepower (255 vs. 247) and 37 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 258) than the V60 Cross Country’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The GLC 350e’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 66 more horsepower (313 vs. 247) and 148 lbs.-ft. more torque (406 vs. 258) than the V60 Cross Country’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the GLC 300 is faster than the Volvo V60 Cross Country:

On the EPA test cycle the GLC 350e running on electricity gets better mileage than the V60 Cross Country B5 (60 city/70 hwy MPGe vs. 24 city/31 hwy).

The GLC 350e can travel with zero emissions for 54 miles. The V60 Cross Country can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Mercedes GLC higher (6 out of 10) than the Volvo V60 Cross Country (4). This means the GLC produces up to 12.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the V60 Cross Country every 15,000 miles.

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Mercedes GLC, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the V60 Cross Country.

The GLC stops much shorter than the V60 Cross Country:

For better traction, the GLC has larger standard tires than the V60 Cross Country (235/60R18 vs. 215/55R18). The GLC’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the V60 Cross Country (255/45R20 vs. 245/40R20).

The GLC has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The V60 Cross Country’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The front and rear suspension of the GLC uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the V60 Cross Country, which uses transverse leafs springs in the rear. Coil springs compress more progressively and offer more suspension travel for a smoother ride with less bottoming out.

The GLC has a standard automatic load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The V60 Cross Country doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The GLC’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The V60 Cross Country doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The GLC 300 4MATIC handles at .88 G’s, while the V60 Cross Country Ultra pulls only .85 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For greater off-road capability the GLC has a greater minimum ground clearance than the V60 Cross Country (8.2 vs. 7.8 inches), allowing the GLC to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The design of the Mercedes GLC amounts to more than styling. The GLC has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .29 Cd. That is significantly lower than the V60 Cross Country (.33) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the GLC get better fuel mileage.

The GLC has 3.9 inches more front headroom, 3.7 inches more front hip room, 1.2 inches more front shoulder room, 1.6 inches more rear headroom, 2.2 inches more rear legroom, 4.9 inches more rear hip room and 2.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the V60 Cross Country.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the GLC’s rear seats recline. The V60 Cross Country’s rear seats don’t recline.

Pressing a button automatically lowers the GLC’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The V60 Cross Country doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The GLC’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the V60 Cross Country’s (3500 vs. 2000 pounds).

The engine in the GLC is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the V60 Cross Country. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

The GLC’s standard easy entry and exit feature raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The V60 Cross Country doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

Heated windshield washer fluid is optional on the GLC to defrost the washer nozzles and quickly clear ice and frost from the windshield without scraping. The V60 Cross Country doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid. Its standard heated washer nozzles will defrost the washer fluid but not the windshield.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the GLC has standard extendable sun visors. The V60 Cross Country doesn’t offer extendable visors.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Mercedes GLC has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the V60 Cross Country.

The GLC’s Active Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The V60 Cross Country doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The GLC is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The V60 Cross Country doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Motor Trend selected the GLC as their 2017 Sport Utility of the Year. The V60 Cross Country has never been chosen.

The Mercedes GLC outsold the Volvo 60 Series by over three to one during 2023.